Time and tide.....

....wait for no man (or woman)!

Certainly doesn't - can't believe how much time goes by between blogs. I actually think about it a lot but don't find the time to actually do it!

Certainly doesn't - celebrated this week 36 years married to the same man!

Certainly doesn't - both LittleOne and the extra time I now have to play Grandma has reached half a year!

Certainly doesn't - but have to say I'm enjoying each moment of it before it passes!

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Holiday 2009 - part 1....

It's Cornwall this year and way down at the Lizard peninsular......end of the earth as SOOL calls it.

We spent nearly all day in the car yesterday getting here with a few 'comfort' breaks, mostly for LittleOne to have a feed or a bum change, a slight detour and stop to collect Comedian and Olympian as they were visiting their dad in Dorset, then one more 'comfort' break and a quick services-dinner stop as it was getting so late and we finally got here about 8:30ish.

7 of us plus luggage in the one vehicle was a little snug but not a problem. Daughter and Hubby sharing the driving. We had also taken with our in-car DVD player to amuse the children and it was so funny seeing the expression on LittleOne's face when we stuck a screen showing "Over The Hedge" cartoon so he could see it too!

The farmhouse is really nice and full of all we could need. A welcome pack was on the table with tea bags, coffee, bottles one of local fresh juice the other of sparkling water, packet of fudge, packet of biscuits and as pot of jam (all home made locally). We thought this was wonderful, then we opened the fridge to find not only eggs, milk and butter but a tray full of scones, jam and clotted cream.............great start to our holiday having our late night West Country snack :o)

Then it was a good scout round to check out the facilities and choose which bedroom to claim - (well that was the children) then trying to stay enthusiastic for the girls as they wanted to play the new games they had found in a cupboard, but we were all far too tired.......lasted till after midnight - girls were impressed that we arrived on Saturday but they didn't go to bed until Sunday - then all drifting up to our beds.

Today we are having a quiet "around the farmhouse" day.

Wish you were here...

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More than one day at the seaside.....

Not sure what the pull of the sea is but I'm not alone as Brits flock to the sea at home or abroad all the time. Well I never cease to appreciate how lucky I am to live so near to the coast..........ok not luck at all but chose to live here!

I had a birthday this week and when asked what I wanted to do I said 'seaside'. So with Hubby, Daughter, Comedian, Olympian and LittleOne we went to Aldeburgh and had a lovely long walk while the girls used their scooters and then I was treated to an Italian lunch, followed by ice cream cones on our way back to the car and plenty of time on the beach. The girls really enjoyed being buried under the stones with just their heads showing and LittleOne seemed to really enjoy watching all that was going on.

That evening, as it was a Tuesday, I met the friends I eat with every Tuesday evening, but this week was different as friendJ cooked for us so we had a celebration evening. I had a great day.

Friday was another lovely hot and sunny day so Hubby and I headed to the seaside yet again. Felixstowe this time and first we went to Languard Fort and actually went inside to see the exhibition............we've lived here 26 years and never done it before! After that it was chips on the beach, my favourite, then a walk, then a pub stop so Hubby could have a pint and then an ice cream on the walk back to the car.

And our Daughter has just phoned to say she needs to kill some time at Felixstowe today (girls have a birthday party to go to there) and did we want to go for a walk with her.........of course I instantly said yes!

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Happy events make a happy blogger.....

So sorry that I haven't written for a while, haven't really got into the habit of blogging yet and must have obviously been busy enough to forget.

There have been lots of social events which is really enjoyable, especially during the day when the sun is shining.........no I don't miss going to work one little bit :o)

I went with my darling daughter and three grandchildren plus a friend of the girls to an interactive art installation for children. It was called The Cloth Place and everything there was made of fabric and the children were told to explore and play freely. So the three girls worked their way through the farmyard which included almost half size cloth cows, pigs and more. For some reason they thought the rats were dirty enough to gather up and put in the washing machine then peg out on the line by their tails, very funny!!! Upstairs was the cafe with yummy cloth cakes and by the hot counter they cooked and served me material bacon, eggs and chips. Then they donned hats and served behind the butcher's, greengrocer's and fish counters. All this kept them totally entertained for a couple of hours, some of which I spent with LittleOne, just finding our own space to sit while children charged around noisily. A great day out.

Met up with the ex-work team for a lunch at our favourite riverside pub and it was so nice to catch up with their news. We've already written the next meet-up into our diaries.

Spent a Sunday at our largest town centre park for the annual summer Music Day, this was also with my darling daughter and all four grandchildren as Sool was performing there.

I've done some gardening this week with the help of Olympian and Comedian, think they worked harder than I did though!

Today I finally finished sorting out all the 'house clearance' stuff and it should all be gone to the various charities by the end of next week.

And tomorrow I'm at another of the parks for another summer event where I will be exhibiting some of my artwork and helping to man the stand run by the art group I go to........hope the rain holds off!

This isn't everything of course, but I've run out of time to write anymore as I've another pair of baby trousers to make out of the sleeves of a no longer needed jumper, so as you can see I've been busy and it's all been relaxed fun - just the way life should be :o)

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Busy birthdays....

Although Comedien and Olympian don't actually turn 7 for another week, this weekend we celebrated (they are with their dad next weekend). Saturday morning Olympian and I went to gymnastics and Hubby collected Daughter, Sool, Comedien, Dynamo and LittleOne - so by lunchtime we were all at my house! After lunch they opened their presents from Daughter and Sool and from each other and their main present was a kareoke machine!!!!! Can you guess how the afternoon was spent eh? We rounded off the evening with a Chinese Takeaway feast.

Sunday was the big party - they had chosen to have a Cave and Animal party. So their bell tent was erected in our garden to be the cave and it was filled with soft toy animals. Comedien, Olympian and Dynamo were in animal fur costumes and Daughter wore an animal print headband and even I managed to find a top that was a sort of animal print too.

Daughter and I loaded the table with mostly home cooked food and Hubby had printed off some caveman and Flintstones posters to stick up round the place. 1pm and our home filled up nicely with about 40 lovely people (about 50:50 adults to children). The children all amused themselves and each other - all getting along well even though some are friends from home-ed groups, some from gymnastics and one relation and various ages too! Meanwhile the adults chatted lots and drank lots of tea, made by various people and many of them taking turns to cuddle LittleOne as this is his first social function too!

All too soon it was 7:30pm and all the guests had gone and Hubby loaded the car with Daughter's family and took them home...........then I had less than an hour to clear up before going out myself, you should have seen me go through the place like a whirl-wind, I do work better under pressure!

And now today Daughter, LittleOne and the girls are back here so the girls can concentrate on going through all their prezzies properly! They will have more when their presents from me and Granddad arrive (ordered on-line and partly arrived), then they will have more again at their daddy's next weekend so a very long birthday indeed.

Quote of the day from Conmedien........"The best thing about parties is there is always lots of leftovers for lunch the next day!"

Remember it's temporary...

Well it's been a very busy/cuddly/stressful/fun/scary/depressing/proud/exhausting week!

Our daughter has sufferred quite a bit since delivering LittleOne, who I have to say is sooooo cuddly, she had to stay in hospital Saturday till Wednesday night because of unhealthy issues that were so painful and immobilising, but in her ususal positive way I only saw a meltdown once.

I've spent lots of time with Olympian and Comedian, running them about and spectator to hours of their gymnastics which has been great. they work so hard. I've also managed to cover nearly 400 miles in the car going between my home the hospital and various errands. Job wise has still been a big part of this week even though I'm supposed to be on leave!

However, it's all temporary......our daughter will heal, my father-in-law will find peace in a better place and I will soon have time to play grandma as much as I like.

What a busy day...

Had to log onto work for a couple of hours as so many forms still to fill in and I want to take the whole week off to play grandma so a small sacrifice.

Collected Sool and Dynamo for the afternoon hospital visit. Very happy to say that my precious daughter and LittleOne both looked well rested and much more comfortable. Then home where Hubby was cooking dinner and Olympian and Comedian were playing having been returned after a day out with their dad and his dad. They had been to the zoo and were full of Orangutan stories and more.

After dinner the girls and I collected Sool again and headed off for the evening visit. I just love all these cuddles. The girls also collected from home all their stuff needed for a sleepover at my house...........and that's where they are now fast asleep in the room we have here for them.

I've spent some of this evening catching up with phone calls and emails all congratulating on our new arrival and/or commiserating on the job situation..........so many lovely family members and friends with kind wishes, I'm very lucky and feel so loved! Also an update on facebook for those I haven't the time for direct contact with just yet.

And now it's time for some tele and a cuppa then bed as I guess the girls will keep me busy tomorrow before we go off for our afternoon hospital visit again.

Welcome to LittleOne

Well this has to be the best reason to blog and make you all smile - our new grandson arrived 2:31pm today at a very healthy 8lb 4oz. I've had my first cuddle with LittleOne and he's adorable, well I would say that wouldn't I :o)

My very special daughter did suffer quite a bit - starting with a very much wanted home birth but ending with an emergency ambulance dash to hospital and theatre for a c-section delivery but everyone knew it was the right thing to do so just got on with it. Seeing her this evening was upsetting for me as she is still in a lot of discomfort and it broke my heart when we had to abandon her in an empty room unable to be mobile enough to do what she wants for LittleOne without calling for help each time, however, I know she is a very strong person and will recover quickly. I'm so proud of her! Sool played a major part and did a lot to help and I'm proud of him too.

Meanwhile, I collected three children and headed for gymnastics early this morning for Olympian to have her training. Thankfully Hubby met us there and first took Comedian and Dynamo to the park and later took them home to our house. When we were all home it was lunch and playing all afternoon - occassionally a little heated but mostly fine and some of the time great fun.

All of us to the hospital this evening for our first visit, with the three children wearing their "I'm a BIG sister/brother" t-shirts that I'd painted for them. The children were all bessotted by LittleOne and all desperate to cuddle him. Main comments by them all was how soft his skin is. I'm really happy knowing they appreciate how precious our new family member is!

Nothing in life can top this............so I'll say no more.